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Geraardsbergen-Bosberg - Discussion
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 07-12-2025 14:11
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Classics Specialist
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Welcome to Geraardsbergen-Bosberg. The C2 mainstay is back on the calendar yet again and the continental division has their eyes set on revenge as last year’s race was a surprising PCT 1-2 with Marzuki taking a very surprising win ahead of De Witte! The near 200km route is the same as always, it’s a tough somewhat hilly course that should make for some good racing this year.
Let’s take a look at the top riders present:
 Richardson is on paper the strongest candidate to take the victory, but the Bermudan has been hit or miss throughout his career in similar fields so whether or not the race is a little too long today time will tell. His last two results in this race are 13th and 11th.
 Teggart,  Insausti,  Mestric and  Monk are next in line as somewhat similar riders that can make a difference towards the back end of the race. The Irish cobbler is no stranger to C2 success and is normally seen as a critical piece of the team around Girmay but he tends to shine when he gets to ride for himself. Mestric is also another strong PCT card that’s being played out and should be incredibly dangerous. Another rider that needs a mention is one of the sensations of 2025 in  Basso. Bianchi have been flying this year after their rebuild and going into this year.
| Rider | FL | RS | ST | CO | AC | | Richardson | 71 | 68 | 68 | 78 | 61 | | Insausti | 69 | 72 | 75 | 76 | 65 | | Teggart | 73 | 73 | 76 | 76 | 70 | | Mestric | 73 | 70 | 69 | 76 | 65 | | Monk | 74 | 70 | 76 | 76 | 70 | | Basso | 73 | 73 | 78 | 73 | 69 |
In the tier below we find riders such as  Sanogo,  Boros and  Van Lerberghe. All of which for sure could be in the first category as well with how tight the cobbles are at the C2 level but for this race my eyes are primarily keen on the others mentioned before these. Finally Richardson’s helpers in Campbell and Forbes are also cards that if played out correctly can work absolute wonders on the rest of the field.
| Rider | FL | RS | ST | CO | AC | | Sanogo | 73 | 72 | 71 | 76 | 70 | | Boros | 72 | 67 | 71 | 76 | 64 | | Van Lerberghe | 73 | 72 | 73 | 76 | 71 | | Monk | 74 | 70 | 76 | 76 | 70 | | Roosen | 74 | 73 | 71 | 75 | 71 |  Eekhoff | 75 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 71 | | De Witte | 74 | 72 | 75 | 75 | 69 | | Campbell | 74 | 68 | 69 | 75 | 73 | | Forbes | 72 | 68 | 70 | 74 | 69 |  Nielsen | 75 | 75 | 71 | 74 | 71 |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 07-12-2025 14:16
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Tour de France Champion
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Rooting for Mestric magic, but Basso will win this.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 07-12-2025 15:05
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Grand Tour Champion
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Second C2 cobble race of the season. First one was unsuccessful, maybe this one will fare better
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 13:30
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 07-12-2025 15:48
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The Eekhoff experiment starts with this race. Pretty sure this is the highest up the favorite list of a cobbled race McCormick has ever appeared.
Basso has earned his elevation to the top tier but would argue (hope) that Eekhoff's +2 FL, +4 RS and +2 CO would balance out Basso's 2 extra stamina, but maybe not.
The does raise a few other questions -
This is a hilly race - does WJ know something about the role of HI in this race that he chose to omit it? In my mind, which tends to operate in earlier versions, it is the stat that elevates Basso and hinders Eekhoff (and many of the others).
Second, if I believe in the hills why did I send Eekhoff here instead of Herning? it isn't like we have a conflict with Paris Roubaix.
And am I the only person to often wonder what my planning-self was thinking?
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 07-12-2025 15:56
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Sprinter
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Thanks for the preview, wj! I hope you're right about Mestric here (and be it just to make bbl happy).
Of course not, I assume many of us are occasionally wondering what your planning-self was thinking 
But seriously, I'm quite relieved the mandatory C2 race days fit pretty much with all of the C2 cobbles races (if you invest an additional RD for the fun of racing the Tour du Faso) which saves a lot of thinking in the planning process: you just have to make sure you have two eligible cobblers, two stagiaires, three lvl. 1 riders and a lvl. 3 rider (who can still use the XP) and all C2 race squads are planned quickly.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 07-12-2025 16:21
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Classics Specialist
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Ulrich Ulriksen wrote:
The Eekhoff experiment starts with this race. Pretty sure this is the highest up the favorite list of a cobbled race McCormick has ever appeared.
Basso has earned his elevation to the top tier but would argue (hope) that Eekhoff's +2 FL, +4 RS and +2 CO would balance out Basso's 2 extra stamina, but maybe not.
The does raise a few other questions -
This is a hilly race - does WJ know something about the role of HI in this race that he chose to omit it? In my mind, which tends to operate in earlier versions, it is the stat that elevates Basso and hinders Eekhoff (and many of the others).
Second, if I believe in the hills why did I send Eekhoff here instead of Herning? it isn't like we have a conflict with Paris Roubaix.
And am I the only person to often wonder what my planning-self was thinking?
WJ is hella hungover and came home at 6:30 this morning running on 3 hours of sleep reporting and writing the preview.
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 07-12-2025 17:02
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Small Tour Specialist
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Cobbles are not a big focus for Kraftwerk, any points are a bonus.
Hoping for top 10 from Sanogo and top 20 from Harrison.
Thanks for the preview WJ and the dedication, sounds like a great night out!
And am I the only person to often wonder what my planning-self was thinking?
Ha, no definitely not, I think I hallucinated some stages 
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| Heine |
Posted on 07-12-2025 17:16
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Hoping for some points from Leerberghe here, have to agree with most likely Basso winning. There is something special in those Bianchi-bottles
I hope drunk/hungover WJ is feeling better 
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 07-12-2025 17:50
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Directeur Sportif
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kandesbunzler26 wrote:
But seriously, I'm quite relieved the mandatory C2 race days fit pretty much with all of the C2 cobbles races (if you invest an additional RD for the fun of racing the Tour du Faso) which saves a lot of thinking in the planning process: you just have to make sure you have two eligible cobblers, two stagiaires, three lvl. 1 riders and a lvl. 3 rider (who can still use the XP) and all C2 race squads are planned quickly.
I considered going all cobble and it might have made sense with Eekhoff but last year's C2 was such a disaster for us that didn't want to put all my eggs in one basket - which means you have to make choices and sometimes they are bad choices.
Talking of those . Good luck to WJ with the hang over recovery and thanks for getting the preview up despite it.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 07-12-2025 19:56
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3061
Joined: 15-07-2007
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Lets see what our Faroe viking hero can do here, a top 10 maybe? |
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| seancoll |
Posted on 07-12-2025 23:54
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Breakaway Specialist
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Off the list, but hoping Sheffield has a great race here so I can see exactly what his skillset is this year while over at Zwift
But going with Sanogo for the win with the hill impact!
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 08-12-2025 08:45
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After a disappointing result in his first C2 cobbled race of the season, I do hope that Monk can put in a better effort this time around! He should be fighting for a Top 5, if not for the win
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 08-12-2025 09:02
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Posts: 1115
Joined: 05-10-2021
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I mean, it's the 2nd C2 cobbled race where I didn't send Darbynyan and I'm even wondering whether I was on the right line on the file when I did this...
Even though he was only 14th last season. Maybe we'll do a bit better this year, but doubt it.
THanks for the preview, good luck everyone.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
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